UH regents give final OK to film school
By Beverly Creamer
Advertiser Education Writer
University of Hawai'i President Evan Dobelle had high praise for the "dedication, commitment and vision" of Chris Lee, chairman of the newly approved Academy for Creative Media, in seeing Hawai'i's first film school become a reality.
"With the support of the people of Hawai'i, our original dream has grown and evolved," Dobelle said. "It's a true testament to what can be achieved when we work together."
It was a momentous occasion for the university as the Board of Regents voted Friday to approve the first program that will span all 10 of the system's campuses throughout the state.
With 70 students enrolled, the program will start at Manoa but expects to one day have thousands of students from throughout the system earning everything from associate's degrees to doctorate's, Lee said.
Lee, a former president of production for TriStar Pictures and Columbia Pictures, called it a great day for Hawai'i.
Gov. Linda Lingle has pledged $767,000 for the school's first-year budget as part of the supplementary package she's sending to the Legislature. As well, UH-Manoa Chancellor Peter Englert reallocated other resources to give the new academy $353,000 for this year. Lee has raised an additional $450,000 privately.
There are 160 courses throughout the system that have been identified as potentially part of the curriculum, said Peter Britos, a founding director of the program.
Britos is a Hawai'i-born graduate of the prestigious University of Southern California film school, where he received both his master's and doctorate's degrees and won numerous screenwriting awards. He has worked extensively in the industry as a writer, director and producer, and also taught at USC. He was recruited by Lee.
In other action, the board:
• Approved establishment of the department of geriatric medicine and the department of complementary and alternative medicine at the John A. Burns School of Medicine.
• Accepted $40 million in gifts, grants and contracts brought in between Oct. 16 and Dec. 15 last year. Projections for this fiscal year are around $400 million in grants and contracts — a doubling over the past four years.
During the board's monthly meeting at Kapi'olani Community College, the room was packed with about 100 faculty members demonstrating for raises in a show of support for the bargaining process that began a few weeks ago.
Reach Beverly Creamer at bcreamer@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8013.
